Share this on:

Miami Heat lose to Boston Celtics in NBA season opener

Miami Heat's new signings Chris Bosh and LeBron James could not help their side to victory over the Boston Celtics in the opening NBA match of the season on Tuesday.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Miami Heat lost to Boston Celtics 88-80 in opening match of 2010-11 NBA championships on Tuesday

Heat star trio of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James did not live up to expectations

Defending Eastern Conference champions Celtics were the more consistent team

Revamped Heat insist they have time to improve over the season

(CNN) -- The new-look Miami Heat insist it is too early to judge their NBA title credentials after losing their opening game of the season 88-80 to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

In one of the most highly-anticipated games in the series' history, the Heat -- complete with their star trio of Dwayne Wade and new signings Chris Bosh and LeBron James -- could not live up to close season expectations against the 17-time NBA finals champions.

But James -- who announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join Miami in dramatic fashion on an hour-long television program on ESPN in July -- believes his new team can improve sufficiently before the end of the season in April next year.

"It's a feel-out process,'' James told the official NBA website after the loss. "Rome wasn't built in one day, it's going to take time. We understand that."

"This is one of 82 [games],'' added Wade. "Sorry if everyone thought we were going to go 82 and 0. It just ain't happening.''

Dubbed as the NBA's new "dream team," the Heat were greeted with chants of "overrated" from the packed crowd at the TD Garden arena in Boston, as they struggled to score just nine points in the first quarter and found themselves trailing 45-30 at half-time.

Returning from a hamstring injury, Wade finished with 13 points and Bosh made just eight. James, the final member of "The Big Three" led the team with a total of 31, but despite scoring 21 in the final quarter his effort was still not enough to topple the defending Eastern Conference champions.

Boston were by far the more consistent side with Ray Allen scoring 20 for the east coast team, while Paul Pierce added 19 and Kevin Garnett contributed 10.

It's a feel-out process. It's going to take time. We understand that.--LeBron James